Catholic schools throughout the eight-county Diocese of Cleveland are preparing to mark Catholic Schools Week 2024 – Jan. 28 through Feb. 3 – with a variety of activities that will incorporate faith, family and fun, as well as celebrating their academic achievements.
The highlight of the week will be the diocesanwide annual Catholic Schools Week Mass celebrated by Bishop Edward Malesic on Jan. 30 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Elementary and high schools from throughout the diocese are planning to send hundreds of student representatives to attend the liturgy. It will be the first time many of the students have visited the mother church of the diocese.
Locally, “Rejoice!” is the theme for Catholic Schools Week 2024, with the following daily themes:
- Jan. 28 – Rejoice! … in who we are
- Jan. 29 – Rejoice! … in what we love
- Jan. 30 – Rejoice! … in how we excel
- Jan. 31 – Rejoice! … in how we inspire
- Feb. 1 – Rejoice! … in how we compete
- Feb. 2 – Rejoice! … in where we serve
- Feb. 3 – Rejoice! … in when we invest
There are 66 preschools, 87 elementary schools and 20 high schools throughout the diocese serving nearly 39,000 students in grades Pre-K to 12, making this the sixth-largest system of Catholic schools in the country.
Frank O’Linn, superintendent of diocesan schools, said the schools have much to rejoice and celebrate this year, noting four schools – Incarnate Word Academy in Parma Heights; Lakewood Catholic Academy in Lakewood; St. Bernadette School in Westlake and St. Sebastian School in Akron – earned the coveted National Blue Ribbon School designation for 2023. They were among only 19 schools statewide to receive the distinction.
“This is exciting for our diocese,” said Monica Dietz, assistant superintendent in the diocesan Office of Catholic Education. “Our schools are academically excellent and this national Blue Ribbon award magnifies our outstanding instructional leaders, dedicated teachers and hardworking students. We are thrilled for these four exemplary, high-performing schools.”
Tracey Arnone, associate superintendent, echoed Dietz’s comments and added, “To have four of the 19 schools in Ohio who received this award come from our diocese speaks volumes about the academic excellence in our schools. I am most proud of the principals and teachers of these four schools, and the way their high expectations for students led to the achievement of the National Blue Ribbon School Award.”
In addition to open houses, observing their faith and celebrating academic achievements, students across the diocese will have some fun during Catholic Schools Week. Below are some of the activities planned for the week.
At Communion of Saints School in Cleveland Heights, parents will be honored at a Parent Appreciation Luncheon and a parent vs. eighth grade volleyball game will follow.
St. Hilary School in Fairlawn will receive a proclamation from the mayor. There will be a school-wide assembly and pep rally, as well as adoration.
Students at St. Mary of the Falls School in Olmsted Falls will have a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) project using donated boxes of macaroni and cheese. Eighth-graders will design a domino “maze” with the boxes. Afterward, the pasta products will be donated to needy families.
A living was museum is planned at Our Lady of Mount Carmel (West) School in Cleveland. Students in grades 4-8 are researching a hero or significant person from Ohio history in the categories of arts, sports, science, medicine, military, politics, civil rights and social justice. Students will write reports about their hero and present them to the class. Five students from each grade will be chosen to dress up as their hero and present them in the living wax museum as students from the school tour the museum.
St. Mary School in Chardon is anticipating a visit from state Sen. Sandra O’Brien, R-45, who represents the Chardon area. O’Brien, a former teacher, will speak to students about being a good citizen and will have lunch with student council representatives.
A Faith and Families Mass is planned at St. Peter School in Lorain.
In addition to Mass, Holy Family School in Stow is planning Catholic Schools Trivia and a volleyball game with faculty, staff and priests vs. the eighth-graders.
At St. Francis Xavier School in Medina, there will be a Spirits of the Past production, a school pep rally, video and student raffle as well as a visit from a magician.
St. Mark School in Cleveland’s West Park neighborhood will have a school game of Kahoot with classrooms competing against each other, a school gift bag assembly for first responders, a spelling bee, student talent show and adoration.
Many other events are planned at other schools around the diocese.
See the January/February issue of Northeast Ohio Catholic magazine to learn more about some of the things happening in diocesan schools or click here to visit the Office of Catholic Education web page. View a video featuring the four Blue Ribbon Schools in the diocese here.Watch the livestreamed Catholic Schools Week Mass on Jan. 30. The liturgy will be recorded and also can be viewed on demand.
Photos are representative of some schools in the diocese.